Travis Kalanick Eyes Pony AI Buyout With Uber’s Backing
▼ Summary
– Uber founder Travis Kalanick is exploring a potential acquisition of Pony AI’s U.S. arm, possibly with Uber’s involvement, per The New York Times.
– Pony AI, which went public last year with a $4.5B market cap, began preparing its U.S. division for sale or spinoff in 2022.
– The deal would mark Kalanick’s return to self-driving vehicles after his 2017 exit from Uber, which had previously pursued autonomous tech.
– Uber sold its self-driving division under Khosrowshahi and now partners with companies like Waymo for autonomous ride-sharing.
– Kalanick remains focused on CloudKitchens but has shown growing interest in robotics, hinting at regret over Uber’s autonomous tech sale.
Travis Kalanick is reportedly exploring a deal to acquire the U.S. operations of Pony AI, a move that could mark his return to the autonomous vehicle sector. Sources indicate the Uber co-founder is collaborating with investors to secure funding for the purchase, with potential backing from Uber itself. Pony AI, a Chinese self-driving technology firm, went public last year with a valuation nearing $4.5 billion before news of the potential acquisition surfaced.
The company began restructuring its U.S. division in 2022, even creating a separate version of its source code, signaling preparations for a sale or spinoff. For Kalanick, this deal would represent a significant reentry into the autonomous vehicle space after his departure from Uber in 2017. During his tenure, Uber aggressively pursued self-driving technology, though its efforts were marred by a fatal accident involving one of its test vehicles in Arizona.
After Kalanick’s exit, Uber’s new leadership under CEO Dara Khosrowshahi shifted strategy, selling the company’s autonomous division to Aurora Innovation and opting instead to partner with third-party providers like Waymo. Kalanick, who now focuses on his ghost kitchen venture CloudKitchens, has remained vocal about his belief in autonomous ride-sharing. At a recent event, he hinted at regret over Uber’s decision to abandon its in-house self-driving program, suggesting the technology could have been a game-changer today.
While CloudKitchens remains his primary focus, Kalanick’s interest in Pony AI underscores his continued fascination with robotics and automation. The potential acquisition could position him as a key player in the evolving self-driving industry, though it remains unclear how Uber might factor into the deal. The development also raises questions about whether Kalanick aims to compete with his former company or forge a new path in autonomous mobility.
(Source: TechCrunch)
